除夜の鐘 Joya no Kane

Background

Joya-no-kane is the Buddhist tradition of striking temple bells 108 times as midnight crosses into the New Year on December 31, and Chion-in Temple's ceremony is among the best known. According to the temple's official site, the bell is struck 108 times because that is the number of worldly desires we carry; the ringing sweeps away the year's accumulated burdens so the New Year can be greeted with a pure heart. Chion-in's great bell was cast in 1636, stands about 3.3 meters tall and 2.8 meters across, weighs roughly 70 tons, and is counted as one of Japan's three great temple bells.

What to see

• One of Japan's three great temple bells: Chion-in's great bell, cast in 1636, is about 3.3 m tall, 2.8 m in diameter, and weighs roughly 70 tons.
• Seventeen monks ring it together: one pulls the main rope, hanging suspended and using his full body weight, while sixteen pull the sub-ropes, swinging a beam of about four meters to strike the bell to the calls of "Ee-i, hitotsu" and "Sore!".
• 108 strikes across New Year's Eve: each strike symbolically dispels one worldly desire, prayed for the removal of sins and peace in the world.
• While the bell sounds, three monks perform full prostrations beside it and a count-keeper tracks the strikes and timing, in a solemn atmosphere.
• Public test ringing around December 27: monks rehearse the full ceremony in public, no reservation needed.

Timeline

Around Dec 27, from 14:00 (exact date announced yearly on the official site)

Test ringing (full-scale public rehearsal). No advance reservation needed; entry may be limited if crowded.

Late night of Dec 31

The Joya-no-kane ceremony. Recent years use an advance-reservation, group-based viewing system (in 2025, four groups with an admission fee); only monks ring the bell and visitors watch. Check the official site for that year's times and application details.

How to watch

• Viewing on New Year's Eve requires advance application on a first-come, first-served basis; the temple states no same-day applications are accepted, and the admission fee should be confirmed in advance (3,000 yen per person in 2025, free for elementary school children and younger).
• Visitors may watch only, not ring the bell; the bell tower route is one-way, and once inside you may leave early but cannot re-enter.
• Check-in is at the bus pool in front of the Kuromon gate; arrive on time for your group and follow staff instructions.
• The ceremony is usually livestreamed on the temple's official YouTube channel.
• No open flames or alcohol on the grounds; winter nights are cold and waits can be long, so dress warmly.

Getting there

Chion-in Temple is at 400 Rinka-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. The nearest station is Higashiyama Station on the subway Tozai Line, about an 8-minute walk (per access information published by the official Jodo-shu channel); city buses to "Chion-in-mae" are about 5 minutes on foot. Confirm walking times with the official site before visiting.

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